California Assembly passes bill to require condom use in adult films

Diane Harkey, Isadore Hall, Shannon Grove

Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

Assemblyman Isadore Hall III (D-Compton), center, speaks with GOP Assembly members Diane Harkey of Dana Point, left, and Shannon Grove of Bakersfield on the Assembly floor in April. Hall wrote the measure that would require condoms to be used in adult films produced in the state.

Assemblyman Isadore Hall III (D-Compton), center, speaks with GOP Assembly members Diane Harkey of Dana Point, left, and Shannon Grove of Bakersfield on the Assembly floor in April. Hall wrote the measure that would require condoms to be used in adult films produced in the state. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

@thesailboatblaze It would be tough for the industry to move because the filming of adult films is legally protected in only California and New Hampshire. Check this law journal article out if you would like to learn more....

"I believe the implications of whatever is passed in this bill will be felt by every other small business owner in the state of California," Donnelly said.

The bill has attracted fierce opposition from some in the industry, who argue that the industry's current testing standards do enough to prevent the spread of disease.

"The real goal of this bill is to push adult production out of California by manufacturing a crisis," said Diane Duke, head of the Free Speech Coalition, an adult entertainment industry group. "It makes for great headlines, but dangerous public policy. We're incredibly concerned."

Hall said the warnings that adult film production would flee California is a "lie." He said California and New Hampshire are the only two states that allow adult film production, and in Las Vegas, often proposed as an alternative home to the industry, sex workers are required to use condoms.

He dismissed the industry's concern as an unlikely doomsday prediction.

They said folks were going to stop buying cars once you started requiring cars to have seat belts," Hall said in an interview, "and the car industry is still surviving."

The bill passed the Assembly on a 45-14 vote. It now moves to the Senate.